Veteran Salutes VA Care

The Jan. 24 letter from Robert Bouchard, "Veterans Deserve Good Care," invites my response. For Mr. Bouchard to suggest that America's veterans are not receiving the financial and medical care they deserve is wrong. In fact, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides billions of dollars to millions of disabled veterans, widows, and dependents every year. More than 26,000 Connecticut residents receive these benefits.

VA surveys have consistently shown the majority of veterans are satisfied with their care. As a disabled Vietnam veteran, my 46 years of VA care has been excellent. The VA has not failed its "moral and fiscal responsibility" to our veterans.

As for Mr. Bouchard's plan to install Sens. Murphy and Blumenthal as VA czars, the senators already have a role. They should support full funding of the VA's budget requests and provide the VA secretary with the resources and tools he needs to succeed.

I, along with countless others, am grateful to the VA and appreciate the service and care they provide.

Richard F. Benson, Berlin

The writer is a retired Army sergeant and aide to former Sen. and Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr.